Birmingham, UK – In a recent interview with Meltdown of Detroit’s WRIF radio station, legendary drummer Vinny Appice revealed he was not invited to participate in the upcoming “Back To The Beginning” charity concert scheduled for July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The event will mark the final performance of Black Sabbath’s original lineup and the last appearance of singer Ozzy Osbourne as a solo artist.
Appice, known for his work with Black Sabbath during the Ronnie James Dio era, shared that he wasn’t contacted for the event, likely due to his stronger association with the Dio-led version of the band. “No, no, no. They didn’t contact me because times have changed, and I’m associated with [the Ronnie James] Dio [version of] Black Sabbath,” Appice said, as transcribed by Blabbermouth.net. However, he fondly recalled a brief stint with the Ozzy-fronted Sabbath in 1999, when he stepped in for a European tour and a handful of U.S. dates—approximately 10 to 12 shows—due to original drummer Bill Ward’s medical issues.
Reflecting on the experience, Appice described the thrill of performing with Black Sabbath’s original lineup, including Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, and bassist Geezer Butler. “I’m sitting there on the drum set facing the audience, and then I see Ozzy in front of me, and then Tony and Geezer, I go, ‘This is pretty damn cool. I’m with the original band now,’” he said. “It was cool with Ronnie, of course, but now this was, like, ‘Wow.’ I’m the only other drummer that played with them at that point.”
Appice also shared lighthearted anecdotes about touring with Osbourne, describing him as “pretty crazy” but “a lot of fun.” He recalled Osbourne’s playful habit of dousing him with a bucket of water during performances, which left the drums slippery and difficult to play. After Appice mentioned the issue to Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s wife and manager, the pranks promptly stopped. “It shows you who wears the pants in the family,” Appice quipped.
The drummer also revealed an unusual role during the 1999 U.S. tour, where he served as a backup in case Bill Ward, who had returned after his health issues, was unable to perform. “I did a whole tour and didn’t play,” Appice said. “It was the weirdest thing. In case Bill had a problem, I would jump up and play, continue the show. I was the backup plan B.”
While Appice won’t be part of the historic charity concert, his reflections offer a glimpse into his unique place in Black Sabbath’s legacy, bridging both the Ozzy and Dio eras of the iconic band.
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